What is formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde is a compound that's formed naturally in our bodies and the environment. It's also produced commercially. We're all exposed to small amounts of formaldehyde through the air we breathe and the products we use every day, such as shampoo and bath products (ACS 2014, WHO 2002).

The use of formaldehyde in cosmetics is strictly regulated. All toiletries in the UK, including baby products, contain only levels that are considered to be safe.

Why is formaldehyde sometimes found in baby shampoo and bath products?

Formaldehyde is a highly effective preservative. The compound itself isn't added to baby products. Instead, other chemicals in the product release formaldehyde as they break down. These chemicals are known as formaldehyde releasers.

Lots of shampoos and bubble baths are preserved with formaldehyde releasers, which slowly release very small amounts of formaldehyde into the product to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi (Juhasz and Marmur 2014, Lundov et al 2009).

Why is there worry about formaldehyde?

Most of the concern about formaldehyde focuses on the dangers of breathing it in (Kim et al 2011). This is the way we're most commonly exposed to formaldehyde.

People living in urban areas or near certain factories are exposed to higher levels of formaldehyde than those in suburban or rural areas. But wherever you live, you're more likely to be exposed to formaldehyde indoors than outdoors (WHO 2002).

Breathing in formaldehyde can irritate your skin, eyes, nose and throat, and may make you cough, wheeze or feel nauseated (ACS 2014, NCI 2011). Scientists are also concerned that there may be a link between breathing in formaldehyde and asthma in children (McGwinn et al 2010, Kim et al 2011).

Long-term exposure to high levels of formaldehyde has been shown to cause cancer (ACS 2014, NCI 2011, NTP 2014,WHO 2002). You won't find these sorts of levels in a family home. For example, people most at risk work in industries such as funeral services, where formaldehyde is frequently used (NTP 2014). There's less evidence about short-term exposure to lower levels (ACS 2014, NCI 2011).

What do we know about formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde gets into our bodies most commonly through breathing, but we can also absorb it through eating or drinking, and through contact with our skin. Once absorbed, it's very quickly broken down and leaves our bodies in our urine or through the carbon dioxide that we breathe out (ATSDR 1999).

What don't we know about formaldehyde?

We don't know if babies and children are more sensitive to formaldehyde than adults. Babies and children breathe in more air per kilogram of their body weight. They also have a larger skin surface area in proportion to their body volume (ATSDR 1999).

How is formaldehyde regulated?

In the UK, the levels of formaldehyde in the air and water are strictly regulated by law (WHO 2000). There are particular limits set for workplaces where formaldehyde is manufactured or used (HSE 2005).

The European Union (EU) also has rules on the maximum levels of formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers in cosmetic products. If a product contains more than the safety guidelines specify, the bottle must carry the warning "contains formaldehyde" and list it in the ingredients on the label (EC 1990).

In the US, the recommended maximum level of formaldehyde is the same as in the EU. However, bottles don't have to carry a warning if this level is exceeded (CIR 2010).

The use of formaldehyde in cosmetics and toiletries is banned in Sweden and Japan (Salvador et al 2007).

Should I be worried about formaldehyde?

The levels of formaldehyde in your baby's shampoo and bathing products are well within EU safety guidelines.

Your baby's skin is unlikely to become irritated from contact with low levels of formaldehyde. However, if your baby has sensitive skin, products containing even small amounts of formaldehyde may irritate it (WHO 2002).

Bear in mind that the amount of formaldehyde your baby breathes in from the air around her is difficult to measure, because it depends on so many different factors. However, there are simple steps you can take to help reduce this.

What can I do to protect my baby from formaldehyde?

Following these safety measures will help you reduce the amount of formaldehyde you and your family are exposed to:

Regularly open windows to keep your home well-ventilated.

Make sure there's good ventilation when you're using household and cosmetic products containing formaldehyde, such as nail polish.

Make sure your baby's not in the room with you when you use products containing formaldehyde.

Wash any clothes made from permanent-press fabrics (sometimes labelled as "easy care" or "no iron"), before your baby wears them.

Take special care to air rooms that contain new or newly cleaned carpets, or if you have new furniture made from MDF.

(ATSDR 1999)

There are safety guidelines in place for the level of formaldehyde in baby bathing and shampoo products. Formaldehyde isn't an added ingredient in most skincare products, so you can't tell from the ingredients label whether formaldehyde is present.

Instead, you can look out for formaldehyde releasers. Some of the most common are:

DMDM hydantoin

diazolidinyl urea

imidazolidinyl urea

quaternium-15

Some manufacturers have committed to removing all traces of formaldehyde from their baby products. You could look for a brand which states that its products are formaldehyde-free.

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